Canadian banks to focus on growth, spending and buybacks after strong second quarter Poll Yes By Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press on June 1, 2021. Bank skyscrapers are seen from Bay Street in Toronto's financial district, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan TORONTO – Canadian banks had a strong second quarter, where they beat expectations and began to wind down reserves built up to protect themselves from customers defaulting on loans. Their performance was the product of a cautious approach they applied to the COVID-19 pandemic and the diversification that executives said created stability across all arms of their businesses. Now, all eyes are on how banks will create growth and use that money, analysts say.